Golf club



C. SEARS GOLF CLUB Dec. 9, 1947.

Filed July 9, 1945 mmvroa 1 m E&R an 50' ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STTES ATENT FFICE Claims.

In playing the game of golf or other games where a manually swung or propelled club, mallet, stick, bat or the like is used to strike the free ball or other game projectile, the question of balance of the club or the like is very important, Physical characteristics of the players vary and the balance of such an implement suitable for one player may be entirely unsuitable for another. This is particularly true in a golf club wherein the so called feel or suitable balance is necessary for the proper muscular coordination that is productive of the best results.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a golf club wherein the balance of the entire club may be minutely varied to adjust the feel to the individual requirements of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a golf club of a confined liquid weight medium that is displaceable along the length of the club to adjust the balance thereof.

A further object of the invention is to vary the balance of a golf club by an internally confined liquid weight medium, preferably mercury, that may be displaced by a manual control operable exteriorly of the club.

Still another object of the invention is to provide the head and shaft of a golf club with intercommunicating chambers in which is sealed a liquid weight medium that is displaceable by inversely varying the size of the chambers to change the balance of the club.

These and other objects of the present inven tion will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which an embodiment =1of the invention is shown.-

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a golf club of the putter type showing the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the club head showing a portion of the shaft; and

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment disclosed, the invention is shown as applied to a golf club of the putter type because the feel of the club is particularly important in the use of this type of club. However, it is equally applicable to any other type of golf club, mallet, stick, bat or the like which is manually swung or directed to strike the ball or other game piece used.

In the form illustrated, the putter is of the steel shaft type and. comprises the usual tubular shaft I, connected at its lower end to a metal head 2, which is recessed from its outer end to provide a head chamber 3. The outer end of the chamber is closed by a screw plug 4 perforated as shown at 5 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. Within the chamber 3 is a free piston 6 and interposed between the piston and plug 4 is a coil compression spring 'I. A suitable restricted passage 9 leads from the inner end of the head chamber 3 to the terminus of the head 2 Within the tubular shaft I.

The upper end of the shaft I is open and at a suitable distance within the same is fixed a wall It having an opening connected by a conduit II with the end of the passage 9 of the head 2. A shaft chamber I2 is formed within the shaft between the wall Ill and a controlled movable piston I3. The piston I3 has an upwardly extending externally threaded rod I4.

The movement of the piston I3 is controlled by a projecting end cap I5 closing the open end of the shaft I and swiveled therein on studs IE extending inwardly from the shaft and fitting in an annular groove I'I in the cap. The cap I5 has an inwardly extending tubular extension I8 internally threaded as shown at-I9 to engage the externally threaded rod I4 of the piston. It is apparent that rotation of the cap I5 will move the piston I3 lengthwise along the shaft I and vary the size of the shaft chamber I2 according to the direction of rotation.

Confined and sealed within the chambers 3 and I2 and intercommunicating therewith by the passage 9 and conduit I! is a liquid weight medium 28, preferably mercury. The position of the volume of the liquid with respect to the head chamber 3 and shaft chamber I2 gives a set balance to the club with respect to any desired center of gravity. The mercury is sealed by suitable packing means on the pistons 6 and I3 and confined by head pressure of the piston I3 and atmospheric pressure supplemented by the spring 'I on the free Piston 6.

The set balance of the club is not fixed and may be Varied by a displacement of the volume of the liquid along the length of the club. Thus rotation of the cap I5 to move the piston I3 inwardly or downwardly will constrict the size of the chamber I2 and the volume of liquid displaced therefrom will travel by the conduit II and passage 9 to the head chamber 3 which expands under fluid pressure against the atmospheric pressure and spring action against the free, piston 6. Reverse movement of the cap I5 will enlarge the chamber I2 and liquid weight 3 medium will again be displaced only reversely by contraction of the head chamber 3 by movement of the free piston 6. In some instances, it may not be necessary to use the spring 1.

It is obvious that displacement of the liquid weight medium 20 in either direction will vary the balance of the club. As movement of the piston I3 is controlled manually by the player, it will be apparent that it may be moved in either direction until a suitable balance or feel is obtained that best suits the individual requirements, The threaded adjustment between the cap 15 and piston l3 gives a micrometer range of adjustment so that the balance of the club may be minutely adjusted.

Various attempts have been heretofore made to adjust the balance of golf clubs by adding or removing weights to the head or adjusting the weight of the shaft. A free moving liquid such as mercury has also been used to increase the impact of the club head against'the ball. However, the use of a confined and controllable liquid weight medium differs therefrom and the manual external adjustment permits an instantaneous and minute adjustment of the balance of the club, not obtainable in such devices.

Although in this disclosure the invention is shown as applied to a steel shaft club, it is obvious that by slight variations, not departing from the spirit of the invention, it may be applied to Wooden shaft or all wooden clubs'of various types and for various uses.

While the device herein disclosed has been described with more or less particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to said device or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A golf club including a confined liquid weight medium, means to shift the center of gravity of the club by displacing the volume of liquid therein, and said liquid displacing means including a micrometer screw adjustment.

2. A golf club including intercommunicating expansible and contractible chambers in the head and shaft, a liquid weight medium confined therein, and means to vary the size and volume of the chambers to change the balance of the club.

3. A golf club including intercommunicating eXp-ansible and contractible chambers in the head and shaft, a liquid weight medium confined therein, and manually controlled means to. displace the liquid to change the balance of the club.

4. A golf club including intercommunicating expansible and contractible chambers in the head and shaft, a volume of mercury acting as a liquid weight medium confined and sealed therein, and means to oppositelyvary the siz and volume of the chambers to change the balance of the club.

5. A golf club including intercommunicating expansible and contractible chambers in the head and shaft, a volume of mercury acting as a weight medium confined and sealed therein, means to oppositely vary the size of said chambers to displace the volume of mercury to change the balance of the club, and a manual control for said means operable exteriorly of the club.

6. A golf club including intercommunicating expansible and contractible chambers in the head and shaft, a volume of mercury acting as a weight medium confined and sealed therein, means to oppositely vary the size of said chambers to displace the volume of mercury to change the balance of the club, and a control for said means in cluding a micrometer screw adjustment.

7. A golf club including intercommunicating chambers in the head and shaft, a liquid weight medium confined and sealed therein, and oppositely movable pistons in the chambers, one of which is manually controlled.

8. A golf club including intercommunicating chambers'in the head and shaft, a liquid weight medium confined and sealed therein, and a, piston for each chamber, one of which is free and subject to spring and atmospheric pressure and the other of which is controlled in its movement.

9. A golf club including intercommunicating chambers in the head and shaft, a. volume of mercury acting as a weight medium confined and sealed therein, a free piston in the head chamber subject to spring and atmospheric pressure, a controlled piston in the shaft chamber, a swivelled cap on said shaft, and a screw adjustment between the controlled iston and cap.

10. A golf club including an expansible and contractiblechamber in the club, a liquid Weight medium confined therein, and means to vary the size and volume of the chamber to change the balance of the club.

CARL SEARS.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

